Warriors get a taste of Steve Kerr's offense

LAS VEGAS -- When Steve Kerr makes his professional coaching debut Friday, don't expect the Warriors' summer league team to show off his complete offensive system against Charlotte.

But after Kerr has kept things simple in three days of practices, the Warriors could at least hint at the free-flowing offense that is expected to come in the fall.

Kerr said he wants his team to push the ball and get out in transition. In absence of the opportunity to do so, he would like the ball swung from side to side and the team to play pick-and-roll.

And yes, there are elements of the triangle offense being taught already.

Golden State Warriors new head coach Steve Kerr smiles during a press conference at the Warriors' practice facility in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. Kerr is currently a TNT commentator, was the general manager of the Phoenix Suns, and was a guard with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. He is one of two players to win two championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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JANE TYSKA
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"Right now we have the basics of the basics going on," said assistant coach Luke Walton, who spent most of his playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers in Phil Jackson's triangle offense.

Kerr said he pictured Walton in his playing days as a 6-foot-7 version of what center Andrew Bogut could be in an offense that relies upon post players to make smart reads and passes. During his trip to Australia, Kerr showed Bogut clips of former teammate Luc Longley (another Australian) in that facilitating role.

"We have great passing bigs with Andrew and David (Lee), and I want to put them in passing situations," Kerr said. "I want the ball to move. That's the biggest thing. We've got to get more ball movement, more passes per possession."

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The theory is that with the ball constantly moving and fewer isolation plays, scorers such as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would have an even easier time getting baskets.

"I know all of it very well," Walton said, adding he was thrilled at the thought of working with Bogut. "You definitely ease into it because there's so many different options in the triangle. And once you get the big picture of it, it all makes sense. It's pretty simple. But there's so many different options that if you try to give it to somebody all at once, it'll just confuse people."

Forward Harrison Barnes, who struggled last season on isolation plays, said he has watched tape of the triangle.

"Everyone's pretty much familiar with it, but when you're actually playing in the system, it takes some getting used to," Barnes said. "But it's good. It's just a different style from what I'm used to."

Said Kerr: "I think people sometimes hear the word 'triangle,' and they sort of freak out. And it's just basketball."

Kerr said he likes his current team after the Warriors reached an agreement with free agent guard Shaun Livingston, who is expected to have his contract finalized Friday.

"We really strengthened our backup point guard position with Shaun, and he can play multiple positions, so we've got versatility," Kerr said. "He's very good defensively.

"I like our roster. I feel like this team won 51 games last year, so I don't feel the need to make dramatic changes. This is more about tweaks and trying to get a little better and just trying to continue the upward trend that the team's been on the last couple of years."

Point guard Nemanja Nedovic rolled his left ankle during a scrimmage but later tweeted he was "good to go" for the Charlotte game.

Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green observed practice, and Marreese Speights is also expected to come to Las Vegas.